Chinatown Media and Arts Collaborative (CMAC) opens its HQ in celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month

(SAN FRANCISCO) Chinatown Media and Arts Collaborative (CMAC) opened its head office "Edge On the Square" and presented its inaugural event, Neon Was Never Brighter, last week in celebration of the Asian Pacific American Heritage Month in May.

By the efforts of Assemblymember Phil Ting to secure $26.5 million from the state budget, a commercial building at the corner of 800 Grant Avenue and Clay Street has been acquired and transformed into an arts and media center which is also serves as the headquarters of CMAC.

The Chinatown Media and Arts Collaborative (CMAC) was formed in 2017 by six non-profit organizations to work on establishing a permanent home for an Asian culture and arts museum in Chinatown.

Ting announced the acquisition of the building at 800 Grant Avenue by state fund in July 2021. The $26.5 million is used to purchase, renovate and re-develop the building into a contemporary media and arts center focusing on the Asian culture.

"Edge On the Square", the half-block long commercial building, is located at the corner of Grant Avenue and Clay Street. The storefronts had been vacant and the entire building was put on the market for sale last year.

After almost a year of planning, the new home of CMAC opened its door for the community on April 28 and presented the first contemporary art festival, Neon Was Never Brighter, in Chinatown on April 30. The 3pm-10pm all day festival was organized and performed by 28 artists at various locations throughout Chinatown.

Mabel Teng, Executive Director of CMAC, encouraged visitors for the festival to also shop and show their support to the businesses in Chinatown.

Six founding members of CMAC include Chinese for Affirmative Action, Center for Asian American Media, Chinese Culture Center and Foundation of San Francisco, Chinatown Community Development Center, Angel Island Immigration Foundation and Chinese Historical Society of America.